the jokers new toy

chapter two

I really wished i listened

The next morning I woke up still a little paranoid, that The guys from last night followed me home. I get dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and a hoodie, trying to look different from yesterday. I don't want to take any chances that I will see them again. I walk down the stairs looking around to make sure no one is in my home. Once I was sure there wasn't, I walked into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. I sat on the stool in front of the island with my journal in hand, and I flipped a few pages to find my schedule.

I tried to call one of my bosses trying to not have the night shift again tonight. With my luck I'll get stuck with the night shift forever. "Hi, is Miss Harper right now?" I ask.

"Sorry, not right now, But who is this ?" one of my coworkers asked.

"Sorry, it's Jade." I scratch the back of my neck.

"Oh jade! I can give you Harper's cell" they say.

I think about it for a minute, "it's fine, is um.. Is Mr. Boland working?"

"He just took off," damnit. "maybe I can help with something?"

"I was just going to try and get out of the night shift" I sigh.

Silence and then. "Maybe I can take it," they offer.

"No, no. i wouldn't do that to you"

They tell me how they wouldn't mind. I tell them I can suck it up, and they've been working so much. I finally found out who i was talking to, it was claire. We say goodbye and hang up. I drop my phone on the counter, run my hands down my face and scoot the chair back. I grab a mug and pour some coffee, two sugars and cream. I chug the first cup and get a second, I'm almost half way down when I get another call, "hello"

"Hey honey" my mother. "I wanted to call and ask if you have any jeans that margo could wear."

"Not any she would wear"

"Why no?" she asks.

"They wouldn't fit her." I roll my eyes, I am 21 and barely 130 pounds and 5 '4. Margo who is 29 and maybe 205 pounds and 5 '6. Margo is moms baby girl who in her eyes is perfect in every way, shape, and form.

"I'm sure they would"

"Mom, shes double my size maybe triple"

"Don't say that! She is beautiful!"

"I didn't say she was ugly. I just said she would rip them"

"You are so mean"

"I am not!" Maybe I'm a little mean. I can't help it. Soon she starts lecturing me, and I hang up.

I have my bag over my shoulder as I walk down the street to my work, I open the back door to the shop and greet my coworkers. I'm working in the back until maybe one that's, when i get off.

The day is slow, too slow. I clock out and shove my name tag into my bag. I open the back door and head down the street, on my way to the park I stop inside a convenient store on the corner. I walk in and head to a fridge, I pull open the door and grab a monster. The blue LED lights above the fridge are shining on my face. I grab a pack of gum and shove it in my pocket, I walk to the counter and set my monster on top.

"This it?" the worker asks.

I nod, he scans the drink and "2.75"

I swear to myself, when did monsters get so damn expensive? I pull three ones out of my pocket and hand it to him.

".25 is your change need a reseat?" i shake my head, "have a good day"

"Thanks, you too" I grab it and leave. Red, blue, green and faint white lights light the street. I walk towards an empty bench and sit down, the street I'm on doesn't get crowded with people like some of the other ones.

"Lost this?" a man with a rough voice asks.

I turn and look at it, it's my name tag. "Oh i must've" i go to take it from him when he pulls it away.

"Not so fast" he walks over and sits beside me, "can i ask you something"

"Can I have my tag?" I look between his hand and his face, he can't be more than 30 years old, 35 at most. His hair is brownish black and he has sunglasses hiding his eyes. Who wears sunglasses at this time of day? There is no sun?

The man chuckles, "after you answer my question"

"Fine," I sigh.

"Why'd you run?" He looks over at me.

"What?"

He leans towards me, "I'm going to ask this only one more time. Why did you run?"

"I didn't"

"Dont lie, you know i'll find out one way or another"

I get up from the bench and run.